Reward for rapid return...

Ok give it back... If you stole the first week of September or have hidden it somewhere then please return it immediately.  Is it just us or did the first week of this wonderful month just fly past in silence without so much as a ripple of air to evidence it's movement?
What with the return of the masses from holidays, then the return to school for all those spending their daylight hours in centres of learning across the area it has been a busy time of welcome back coffee brunches and catch ups on the plans for the coming months that take us into the short days and cold fronts that will no doubt soon be upon us.  Amidst all of this we have had a busy time with lots of projects and growing developments and have to admit to being less than attentive to this blog, but having enthused at the growth in our reader numbers over the past month we will now try harder again, promise.
The round up of the first 7 days of September brings you good news that little Peep, now named Lady Hoshi is growing well and bossing the flock about as well as playing face off games with her dad.  He bustles her to stay together with the others when they are wandering the garden and she runs off and dances about in front of him then they both stare each other out and stand face to face for a minute of so until one gives in to blinking or the need to peck for food.  It's a very odd but enchanting bit of chicken behaviour we have never seen before and puts you in mind of a little girl running rings round her dad and driving him mad with her silly games.  We will have to try to catch it on video soon.
We have put our Freegle pallets and boards to good use not only adding some much needed shelves to our airing cupboard but also creating larger veggie planters which we have all along the side of the house now catching the maximum daytime sunshine hours and have planted out more beets, carrots, lettuce and spring onions.  We will report on the success rates at the end of this trial but early signs show the germination rate of seeds grown in trays and transplanted to larger planters is hugely improved on the direct sowing into the garden beds.  We have done some fruit and veg swapping with friends who have provided us with tasty fruit from their gardens in return for chutneys or veggies from ours. The week did not pass without us managing to squeeze in another couple of Paralympic visits during which we managed to marvel at the beauty of Greenwich Park as a venue, see 4 GB Golds won, sing loud to the National anthem repeatedly and experience the most amazing night in the main stadium watching some of the hardest working para-athletes ever.  A timely reminder if anyone needs one that anything you really want is worth working hard for.
The season is definitely running a little late by average standards due mainly to the long wet cold period at the start of summer which means all our summer tubs and baskets are still in full bloom and looking awesome so taking geranium cuttings and the like will begin this week and our winter bedding plants still have a month or so to grow on in their trays before the space will be available for them to be planted out.  Call me a genius but thats why I left sowing the winter bedding until later than usual too, or call me a little disorganised and lucky.!

Big news for our business is that we have booked ourselves into lots of exciting markets in and around the local area and have been really welcomed by the market and fair organisers.  Some of the Christmas markets are now being arranged and we have also managed to secure stalls at some of those so trading hours are very much open in the coming months and we are busy ensuring our stock levels are high enough to cater for the anticipated trade.  Our to do list is headed up with the task of updating our website and Facebook page to let everyone know where they can find us and our tasty produce.
Finally we have discovered a top money saving tip that we can share with you all.  If you want to reduce your grocery shopping bill go to the shop on your bike.  It is impressive how many bulky items you decide you don't really need when you contemplate the idea of dragging them home on the back of your bike....so get peddling.